Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is calling for stronger oversight of the county’s Flock camera system after a newly released report identified gaps in privacy protections and raised questions about who can access the cameras’ collected information.
The report, released ahead of Thursday’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, examines how automated license plate readers are used across the county, what safeguards are in place and whether additional protections are needed.
While law enforcement agencies use the cameras to help investigate crimes, Hidalgo says the county must ensure the technology operates within clear boundaries that protect residents’ privacy.
The Harris County Office of County Administration identified 154 county-funded Flock camera systems, including 125 associated with commissioners’ precincts and 29 reported by county law enforcement agencies.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office also reported administering 17 additional Flock camera networks containing nearly 500 cameras.
However, the report found that the county still does not have a complete, verified inventory of all license plate readers operating within Harris County or a comprehensive list of outside agencies that can access county-collected data.
Another concern involves inconsistent policies across county agencies.
According to the report, only four agencies provided written policies governing their use of license plate readers:
- Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office
- Harris County Constable Precinct 2
- Harris County Constable Precinct 7
- Harris County Constable Precinct 8
The Sheriff’s Office reported that its policy is undergoing revisions and will be made public once completed.
The review also found differences in existing policies, including how long information can be stored, who can access it and when it can be shared.
Under the county’s current agreement with Flock, collected data is generally deleted from the system after 30 days.
Following the review, Hidalgo identified a need for more consistent safeguards across county agencies.
Her office says existing protections are insufficient and that stronger, standardized policies are needed to ensure information collected by the cameras is properly handled.
The judge also raised concerns about the potential for information collected by local law enforcement to be accessed or shared beyond its intended purpose.
Hidalgo maintains that law enforcement should have the tools needed to protect communities while ensuring residents’ privacy remains protected.
The report recommends that commissioners consider establishing a workgroup to develop stronger policies governing the county’s use of automated license plate readers.
That group could review potential changes to the county’s Flock contract, including restrictions on data access, sharing and retention.
It could also develop a standard policy for county law enforcement agencies to follow.
Under the proposed timeline, the workgroup would return to Commissioners Court with recommendations by February 2027.
However, Hidalgo says the county must also consider more immediate solutions rather than waiting several months for additional recommendations.
Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the report Thursday, Oct. 15, including what additional oversight measures may be necessary and what action the county could take to address privacy concerns.
The discussion comes as county leaders work to balance the use of crime-fighting technology with the need to protect residents’ personal information.
